The sheriff of Webb County, Martin Cuellar Jr., faces federal corruption charges tied to a pandemic-era business while his brother, Rep. Henry Cuellar, remains the beneficiary of a high-profile presidential pardon; the case raises questions about misuse of public resources, local trust, and political fallout in South Texas.
Federal prosecutors say Sheriff Martin Cuellar Jr. and his assistant chief used county staff and equipment to run a for-profit disinfecting company called Disinfect Pro Master during the COVID-19 crisis. Authorities allege the firm signed service agreements with local businesses and a school district yet lacked its own employees and supplies, with county resources doing the work instead. Those contracts reportedly brought in substantial sums, including a half million dollar deal tied to the school district.
The indictment lays out potential criminal exposure beyond misuse of public funds, including money laundering counts that carry steep penalties. If convicted, the sheriff faces up to 10 years in federal prison on some counts and hefty fines on others, according to the charges. That legal reality now sits next to the political drama surrounding his brother, a congressman recently pardoned by President Trump.
The pardon for Rep. Henry Cuellar, which came after an indictment alleging bribery, still figures into local perceptions and headlines. Supporters point to the presidential action as proof of unfair targeting, while critics say the family connection makes the sheriff’s case harder to ignore. The moment has turned routine county politics into a test of public trust and partisan narratives in one district.
Sheriff Cuellar released a forceful statement after his court appearance, insisting on his integrity and promising a fight through the legal process. He declared he would be “fully vindicated.” He also wrote, “Over the course of my career — as a Texas State Trooper, a narcotics Sergeant investigator, Narcotics Lieutenant and now as your Sheriff — I have learned the difference between what is right and what is wrong, and I know what I did and did not do,” the statement says.
He continued, “While this process moves forward, I ask the public to let the facts — not rumors, not speculation — guide their judgement. My responsibility remains the same as it was yesterday and the day before. … I remain fully engaged in my duties and in communication with the community. Public safety does not pause, and neither does my commitment to this office.” That pledge aims to reassure residents while legal machinery grinds on.
Henry Cuellar’s office echoed the sheriff’s stance, stressing due process and long public service in the family. “Under our constitution, he is innocent until proven guilty,” the congressman’s statement said. “My brother Martin has served our community as a peace officer for more than forty years with integrity, professionalism, and a deep respect for the law. He is an honest man.” Those words try to frame the story as a temporary legal hurdle rather than a pattern of misconduct.
Political voices are already shaping the narrative from the right. “The Cuellar Crime Family will screw over small businesses and local schools if it means enriching themselves,” Republican National Committee spokesperson Zachary Kraft said. “South Texans deserve leaders focused on serving taxpayers, not those focused on finding new ways to illegally funnel money into their own pockets,” he continued. “Voters are going to send a strong message in November that they’ve had enough of the family who puts their self-interests above South Texas values.”
The episode adds a fresh wrinkle to debates over accountability, pardons, and political loyalty. President Trump justified the earlier pardon by arguing the Justice Department had been politicized and cited concerns about open border policy attacks, and later reacted sharply when Rep. Cuellar announced plans to run again. “Such a lack of LOYALTY,” Trump subsequently posted on his platform, Truth Social.
For residents and observers in Laredo and beyond, the unfolding case will test whether federal prosecutors can prove the allegations and whether local voters will reward or punish a family with deep roots in public service. The sheriff’s legal fight moves forward while local officials and national players trade statements, and the community watches for evidence and outcomes that will shape trust in government for years to come.
